Brian James (guitarist)

Brian James (born Brian Robertson, 18 February 1955, Hammersmith, west London) is an English punk rock guitarist, who has played for several notable bands. His first band was the proto-punk outfit London SS. Previously he had played with another proto-punk band, Bastard, with vocalist Alan Ward, alias Alan Timms, Dez Lover (bass) and Nobby Goff (drums). Some of the influences of Bastard's on stage appearance would surface later, when James moved on to The Damned, recording on their first two albums Damned, Damned, Damned and Music for Pleasure before leaving. James subsequently formed and disbanded Tanz Der Youth, and Brian James Brain's, who briefly became The Hellions.

James guested on The Saints' 1982 album Out in the Jungle. He would later play in The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. He recorded three albums with the band, playing with them from 1982 until their break-up in 1989. James has also played with Iggy Pop's solo band, but he never played on a studio recording with him. He did however play on live albums such as Heroin Hates You.

From 1992-1996, James played guitar with the Brussels based band The Dripping Lips. In 1992 he was invited by Scottish svengali Robbie Kelman to co-write with him the soundtrack for the film Abracadabra, directed by Harry Cleven. The subsequent soundtrack album, produced by Kelman was released in Benelux by EMI/INDISC. The band were Robbie Kelman (vocals), James (guitar), Alan Lee Shaw (bass) and Paul Zahl (drums). Kelman brought in his friend and record producer Jimmy Miller to helm their second album Ready to Crack, again in Brussels. Alan Lee Shaw had moved on to play guitar in The Damned and Nico Mansy replaced him on bass. An extensive North American tour was arranged, only to be later cancelled due to James' refusal to take on the touring. This caused The Dripping Lips to split. They have recently reformed with Kelman and Shaw writing a third album.

Founding members Brian James and Dave Tregunna reformed The Lords of the New Church in 2003 with vocalist Adam Becvare of The LustKillers. The lineup recorded the ten-song CD Hang On and toured Europe in spring of that year. Becvare then resurrected Vancouver's The Black Halos in 2004, writing and recording two albums, Alive Without Control and We Are Not Alone, and touring internationally.

The Lords of the New Church fronted by Becvare continue to perform live and write new material when Becvare is not touring with The LustKillers.

Brian James currently fronts his own band, The Brian James Gang, and is a founding member of the reformed The Lords of the New Church.

External links

• Brian James @ allmusic.com
• Yahoo Music